Rio Tinto Sells Two French Aluminum Plants

Germany's Trimet and Electricité de France to Buy Unprofitable Facilities

By

Inti Landauro

July 13, 2013 3:13 p.m. ET

PARIS—A German company and a state-run French utility have agreed to take over two unprofitable aluminum facilities in France from Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto.

German aluminum group Trimet AG said Saturday that it would acquire a 65% interest in the businesses—a smelter in the French Alps and a transformation unit in southern France—while utility Electricité de France SA would buy the remaining 35%. They didn't disclose...